US Coast Guard shoots out migrant boat engine in high speed chase
By Zita Ballinger Fletcher
Thursday, May 15, 2025
A San Diego-based Coast Guard crew on May 10 stopped a vessel smuggling illegal migrants by firing four shots into the boat’s engine, putting an end to a dramatic chase.
Coast Guard watchstanders initially kept the 18-foot cabin vessel under surveillance after it was spotted speeding northbound off Point Loma around 5:50 p.m., according to a service release.
A Coast Guard response boat was dispatched to approach the vessel. However, as personnel attempted to establish contact, the boat accelerated in an attempt to evade.
Giving pursuit, the Coast Guard issued numerous verbal commands via radio and also fired warning shots. Crew members then fired disabling shots at the boat’s engine, as is customary procedure in such a sequence.
https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2025/05/15/us-coast-guard-shoots-out-migrant-boat-engine-in-high-speed-chase/
